Best meal I have ever had in my life. Ask the other reviews said the same. The food is still on my mind from one year ago. I hope anyone traveling within 100 miles makes a point to add this to their trip. Incredible. Plus Chef Moreno and his wife are charming and warm, kind and very funny. Other tip - let someone else do the driving. The winding hairpin turns were just like those mountain roads in all the best movies in Italy. Do yourself this one favor - go! read more

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I read a review where the reviewer wrote he was still thinking about this meal 4 years later and these words couldn't be truer! Absolutely incredible! The tasting menu delicious, the veal was incredible, and the risotto with mushrooms and apple, wow! Such a warm cozy place and great overall experience. Book ahead of time, they turned 10 people away just tonight! read more

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Absolutely perfect. Moreno was so kind when we arrived a couple minutes early. If you call in advance his wife can pick you up in town and take you to the restaurant. Definitely suggest as the drive up consists of tight turns every couple of minutes and if you have a bad turn radius, it could be a hazard! Good was perfection, wine pairing was so good it was like water, service was fantastic...only thing I didn't need was hearing fellow Americans talking across tables about their preference to fly spirit airlines the whole time. read more

Mom and pop owned. Very friendly and helpful. 4.5/5 stars overall. Tiramisu isn't on the menu but is one of the best tiramisu's I've had. Their 3 chocolate cake is excellent. Very reasonable prices. Cheap, actually, for the quality and quantity of food (I'm from California) Their pasta dishes of the day are excellent; perfectly cooked every single time. Lamb is excellent. Steak is quite good too and is brought on a hot sizzling grill plate. Charcuterie (ham, salami etc) was just ok. The table bread could be better- It's a bit dry. Highly recommend. Make reservations. read more

Gayle sometimes wishes that for some places and their "kick ass" offerings, you should be able to buy a "6th Star". In other words, there are sometimes those places and the people who give and merit a little extra (including butter in the Risotto). The Cajun word for that is Lagniappe. Our recent experience with Chef Moreno and his Wife Rossella merits our highest rating (and more). Gayle and I actually had 4 meals here. The first 2 were breakfasts as we were staying at Moreno and Rossella's Bed and Breakfast ( La Ca'Noeva) across the street. We would be hanging outside and a certain time, the Ristorante door would open and a somewhat tired Moreno (wearing crocs!) would welcome us in. He was tired because he was running this family Ristorante the previous evening, a "Cookery Class" during the Day, and of course cleaning up afterwards. Toast, juice, and coffee always started our breakfast, and more was available. However, after the first night at the restaurant and the 2nd almost full day attending his "Cookery Class", light bites were best. Gayle and I ate at the Ristorante the first night after arriving at La Ca'Noeva. After all, we had just settled in and Ristorante Il Caminetto is just across the street. We had a marvelous dinner and had a fun chat with a couple who were Liberals from Charleston South Carolina (who knew?), who shared their most interesting area hiking stories. The food (try the Risotto) was marvelous and we waddled across the street pleasantly full and happy. The interior of the Ristorante is very attractive, multilevel, and with a lot of dark woods. Back toward the Kitchen is Chef Moreno's office and if you look closely you'll discover his modern love of motor sports. His great-grandfather (Guiseppe or Pepin) ran a tavern here in the 1930s. That more modest establishment was expanded later to include not only the present-day entrance up to the pillar, but beyond an old stone wall and into what was once a cow barn. Look for the granite pillar that holds this renovation together and centralizes the Dining Room. Where the bar is now located was once the old chimney where Pepin used to cook and where many humble clients, warmed by its friendly blaze and with the help of a glass of homemade wine and some friendly chat, banished for a short time, the often hard life outside. Having worked for ten years in Milan in order to gain more cooking experience, Moreno and Rossella became the owners of "Il Caminetto" in 1994. In between, was apparently a variety of family ownership drama, which might be described as a genuine Italian recipe. Which finally brings us to Chef Moreno's Cookery Class. Within the walls of this family-run Ristorante, Gayle, me and several others learned how to make pasta and other traditional Italy meal courses the authentic way: with our own hands and the right tools (rolling pins, knives, etc.). Actually, Chef Moreno did most of the work, while we watched in friendship and in awe. He was also fun to observe as his recipes came alive among entertaining stories and banter with and among his admiring students. In between were snacks, wine, good conversation, and a cherished (albeit too short) sense of family. The payoff was the complete delicious meal (try the Risotto) at the end, that left us full, happy, and confirming that there would be no Dinner for anyone that evening! The cost at the time of our "Kick Ass" experience was 50 Euros each, which trust me was money extremely well spent. Plus, you're on Vacation, right? Moreno and Rossella will arrange transportation to/from the Varenna area and the "Cookery Class" is basically a full day experience starting at ~10:30 AM and ending at around 4 PM. Gayle and I consider this one special life opportunity and privilege to experience from such wonderful people. read more

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We had such a wonderful time learning, cooking, tasting, & drinking with Chef Moreno! He's such a character and it was so much fun spending the day with him! He truly loves cooking and it shows in his teaching and food. Everything was so delicious! The value is unbeatable; for snacks, cappuccinos, wine, after-lunch drinks, meat/cheese platter, and all the food you cook with him, it's really a great deal. The chef provides the recipes for you to take home, too! The weather was cold and rainy, so the cooking class was the perfect retreat during our stay! read more

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We took a cooking class based on the recommendation of a friend who had previously taken the class. Moreno picked us up in a van by the ferry dock and drove us to the restaurant which is about 15 minutes away. It is in a beautiful little town high in the hills. The cooking class was great and we learned how to make homemade pasta and veal scallopini. During the class we had a cheese tray, cappuccino, wine, fresh bread, and of course the lunch that we made. Plus more wine and limoncello! We enjoyed the class so much that we reserved dinner for a few days later. We didn't think the food could get any better from our cooking class but it did. This was the best meal that we have had on our trip thus far. We had the prix fixe menu which was exceptional. Moreno made a point to come out and greet us and also made sure he said ciao and thanked us before we left. His wife Rossella drove us back to Varenna. They were both great hosts! If you're in the area you should definitely check out this restaurant either for dinner and/or a cooking class! read more

I just had what is likely the best meal I've had in my life. Il Caminetto is unlike any restaurant I have ever visited. My wife and I made reservations the day before for dinner, and the chef/owner offered to pick us up from our apartment in Perledo. We agreed, and his wife arrived on time in a van to take us to Il Caminetto, which is in the tiny town of Gittana next door. The restaurant itself is beyond cozy, and it feels like a living room in an ancient Italian house - probably because it is. The house has been with the family for generations, according to the chef (who personally drove us home at the end of the night), and you can sense the history of the building while you relax with a glass of wine between courses. Speaking of courses, my wife and I marvelled throughout the dinner how EVERYTHING could be so delicious. We both ordered multi-course meals and were constantly amazed by every new dish we were served, from the wine, to the meat and pate hors d'oeuvres, to the pasta, to the AMAZING meat skewer served on a SWORD stabbed through a stone. I feel like I could have ordered anything on the menu and it would have blown my mind. Our desserts, a home-made pie and a lemon-vodka sorbet, were just as incredible. You can't go wrong here. It simply isn't possible. If you have a chance, book a cooking class with the chef as well as a dinner. He was charming and hilarious on our drive home, and if he can teach you to cook like that, then it's definitely worth your time. Just book it early - we asked at dinner if we could do the class the next day, and they said the classes were booked for the next two weeks. Whether you take a class or just have the dinner, do NOT pass up Il Caminetto! read more

This is the best meal I had in my entire life. It's been 4 years and I still think about it. Found it kind of randomly the night I stayed nearby, drove up a very winding road and was far more than just pleasantly surprised. Should I ever go back to Italy, I'll also be coming back here. read more

Moreno and Rossella are exceptional hosts. I asked Moreno to bring me whatever was fresh. Each course was supremely crafted and beautifully displayed! Just sit back and relax and let Moreno impress you! read more

A fantastic meal in a lovely setting made this one of our culinary highlights during our 3 weeks in Italy. Everything we ate was outstanding, as was the service and house red wine. An excellent wine list is also available. Chef Moreno, Rossella and Maria are warm and caring and take pride in their food. So sorry we couldn't take his cooking class. Go famished and plan on spending 3 hours in culinary heaven. read more

Moreno picks you up in Varenna and drives you to his restaurant. Dine or take a cooking class. Roaring fireplace, terrific hospitality, wonderful food. A must when in Varenna on Lake Como, Lombardy, Italy. read more

We took Moreno's cooking class in mid/late February. This is definitely the low season in this area, and we ended up in a "private class" with just our group of four...very cool! We were picked up at the Varenna ferry dock by Moreno and driven up to the restaurant, about 15 minutes. Had a really great time and it was very relaxed, even going over the scheduled time (relax, you're on vacation right?). We took a break between dishes and walked around the village, which is quiet but has nice frescoes on many of the buildings and a church up on the hill. Moreno showed us how to make prosciutto covered veal roast, risotto, and tortellini. We got to be hands on with the tortellini which was fun to help make, and easy enough for people with no cooking experience. Lots of good wine along the way, and coffees from his vintage espresso machine (ask him about it!). Overall a really cool experience that certainly was a highlight of our trip to the region. read more

What's to say the hasn't already been said in the reviews here. The cooking class was one of the most enjoyable times we've had in Italy. The history, food chemistry, technical aspects, and life lessons were memorable. The food was superb. Bravo Chef Moreno! read more

While visiting the Northern Region of Italy my daughter and I attended the cooking demonstration by Moreno on September 5, 2014.What an experience from the gracious welcome by his wife and daughter through the preparation of the lunch by Master Chef Moreno. Our day was the best day of our entire trip. Not only was the meal excellent his wit and sense of humor was entreating. If any where on the lake Como you can't miss this class.Make your reservation early as the class fills up fast. Grazie to the family read more

I highly recommend this family run business with amazing authentic Italian food. It's a little out of the way, but well worth it. They even picked us up in Verona and returned us to the town afterwards as well. Don't miss this one!! read more